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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 












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HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO., BOSTON. 



POETIC OFFERING 



TO 



JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER 



.^ ^ 



REV. Lt C. McKINSTRY 



©£c. 17, 1307 — 1834 



HAEC OLIM MEMINISSE JUVABIT 




HAVERHILL, MASS. 

PUBLISHED BY L. C. McKINSTRY 

1890 






COPYKIGHT, 1S9O, 

By L. C. McKiNSTRY. 
To be crediled if quoted. 



TO THE PUBLIC. 



Although the personal character of the address 
of this poem may seem to suggest a x^rivate corre- 
spondence; yet the subjects discussed, and the gen- 
eral esteem with which Mr. Whittier is held, seem 
to excuse the presentation of it to the public with 
the presumption that all will join with the author 
in extending to the venerable poet, greetings and 
congratulations, and say, — 

Greetings to thee, thou friend of man, 

Thy life has been a boon to earth ; 
Thy years, through all then- long-stretched span. 

Have been a blessing from thy birth. 

Ever the world shall bless thy name ; 

Ever, shall men, its accents greet ; 
And, through all onward years, thy fame 

Shall grow and gloAV, Avith praise replete. 

Our offering is not made with claim of great 
merit, — only the merit of sincere good will. The 
public is left to judge of it further. We are de- 
cided in our opinions, especially of that old institu- 
tion of slavery, which has now passed through tlio 
furnace-blast for the melting into a better mould; 



4 TO THE PUBLIC. 

although, from present indications, there is need 
of a recasting, as it appears that, by some mishap, 
the melting was not thorough, for there are ves- 
tiges of the old form remaining in the hatred of 
the blacks by the whites of the South. 

But we earnestly pray that the country may be 
spared the ordeal of another blast of the red lires 
of war, such as we have so recently passed through, 
and that soon " equal rights " may, as justice dic- 
tates, be accorded to all who respect the flag, with- 
out regard to color or social condition, and all be 
treated with respect who are morally respectable. 

With this prayer and this hope we send out this 
book, earnestly desiring that it may aid in some 
small degree to the promotion of the much-desired 
end. 

L. C. M. 

Haveehill, Mass. 



TO 

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 



Dear Sir : — > To thee my thoughts are turned 

For valid reasons — I remember 
That thou and I are, both, concerned 

To note this crispy, bright December. 

For, midway 'twixt its outstretched ends^ 
This seventeenth^ we, both, were born, 

First thou, then I, thus fortune lends 
Its aid to me, some later on. 

These birth-events were thus inlaid, 

Mosaics, in this Yankee Land, 
Under our Liberty Tree's fair shade. 

Which doth, outspreading, grandly stand. 



6 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Our fathers named tins, Freedom's Own, 
And swore to heaven, that their blood 

Should freely flow, e'er monarch's throne 
Should here stand, or th' soil be desjwt-trod. 

They meant it, too, and did that deed, 
Their blood ivas shed, — the soil is free, 

And despot monarchs well must heed. 
What those brave patriots said should be. 

So here, 'neath this wide-spreading Tree, 
We, like the flocks, most peaceful, rest, 

And thank our God that we are free. 
And, by His fostering care, are blest. 

No place is here for grade or clan, 
For claim of high-blood's better state, 

But each is, in himself, a man, 
And each, as any other, great. 

It is high honor to be born 

Here, any day, in all the year. 
But this good seventeenth's glad morn, 

To me, is sweetly, doubly dear. 



DOUBLE HONOR. 

So, double honor, have I, 'neath 

This Nation's Tree on thy birthday, 

And, thereby have I that bequeath. 
Which gives me honor, every way. 

No orient king could e'er bestow 

Such gift, though he had tons of gold. 

And I, my birth-right's presage know, 
Though half its privilege can't be told. 

It is a gift of right, to be 
. All that one can, f ull-souled, desire, 
To be unshackled, always free. 
And feel within heaven's holy fire, 

Stirring the manhood's spirit up, 

To deeds of honor, truth, and right ; 

To drink of learning's crystal cup, 
And ever, for the wronged, to fight. 

And not to despots proud, to kneel, 
Nor have their minions kneel to us, 

But ever with true heart to feel. 
That honor, high, is only thus, 



JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Here wast tliou born, thy Country told 
But twenty years,^ of its life, when 

The jewelled doors did back unfold, 
And ushered thee to mortal ken. 

Rung out the silvery bells their chime. 
To sound thy birthday to the spheres, 

That all the world might note the time, 
When Freedom's Friend began his years. 

Then, when the first full twe^ity-seven 

Of thy young manhood's years had flown, 

J came, and a good kindly Heaven 
Gave me^ thy birthday for my own. 

Two staid old towns — few miles apart, 
Fair Haverhill and West Newbury ,2 

Gave to our heritage the start. 
The first to thee, the last to me. 

The beautiful Moeodemak,^ 

" Beep Biver^'' flowing to the sea, 

Or, regurgitate, tide-turned aback. 
Is silver cord — our bond to he. 

1 I reckon from ratification of tlie Constitution, Sept. 17, 1787. 

2 Massachusetts. 

3 The Abenekis Indians say their people named the river, and 
that this is the original spelling and meaning of Merrimack. 



THE MORE AND LESS. \ 

The Town clerks, faithful men, wrote down 
The birth-event, with name and date. 

That, henceforth, should each good old town, 
To coming years, the tale relate. 

December Seventeenth, alike. 

With ^''eighteen., seven^'''' and, '*- thirty-four^^' 
That, as the years, time's clock shall" strike. 

We'll know our ages, less or more. 

Thine are the " more " — the " less " are mine, 
Less, in more senses, sir, than one ; 

Less, as to years, are mine than thine. 
And less^ in deeds of honor done. 

But 'tis mi/ birthday, all the same, 

And, by it, I my honor wear. 
What's " in it," is more bright than name. 

It shines, like Luna, clear and fair, 

Opaque, but for the Sun's broad light. 
But, shining in his borrowed blaze. 

She doth illume the rayless night. 
And men, with pleasure, on her gaze, 



10 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Thou art the Sun, — I but the Moon, 

But still I find a light, a ray 
Comes to me, as a treasured boon, 

Because I came on thy birthday. 

Please, sir, excuse me, though I seem 

To light my taper at thy fire. 
And bask me, in its pleasant gleam, 

As thus, to thee, I venture nigher. 

Wilt let me, kindly ? Then I sit 

With sweet content, down at thy side, 

With my poor taper thus a-lit, 

Like one who, thus, for rest has hied. 

Thy birthday, mine, most surely is, 

Mine oivn — and why should not, then, I, 

Though my flame's fame is " in the miz,'' ^ 
Sit by thee, in close friendship, nigh ? 

As thus I sit, and see thee smile. 
By thy consent, it makes me feel, 

As I thus, passing hours beguile, 
I do not, of thine lionoy\ steal. 

1 A little girl who heard read in Genesis "that God made 
"all that in them is" understood it "in the miz," uncer- 
tainty, mist; so I use it, 



LOOKING BACKWARD. 11 

I sit, and the long vista scan, 

The vista of thy Avell-spent years. 

Thou, noble heart — well-ripe necl, man. 
Whose birthday mine, so sweetly, cheers. 

But thou canst scan far more than I, 
As thou dost, at life's calmest eve, 

Look back, with misti-filled, saddened eye, 
To when thou didst thy life receive. 

Almost to then., — to youthful days, 
To home, to parents, days when care 

Was not on thee, with torrid rays. 
For boyhood did no burdens bear. 

Fresh come those days, more fresh than those 

Which intervene of busier life. 
Or later when in calm repose 

Thy mind keeps back from scenes a-rife. 

Though long the road thy feet have trod ; 

Many life's milestones, as they've passed \ 
Trussing thy soul a-firm Avith God, 

Till thou hast come to here at last. 



12 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

These scenes come not to me — for I 

Thy birthplace home ne'er saw nor knew ; 

Nor scenes thy boyhood passed hard by, 
Nor what thy hands were fond to do. 

But thy mind's eye takes all the scene, 
And mine — the scene of my young days, 

As flits the light and shade between, 
And leaves it partly in a haze. 

I speak my birthplace. It had mark 

On " Crane neck road," up toward the liilU 

And if the shadows come — the dark 
Or light reveals my home there still. 

That zs, to memory — from the place 
The house is gone, and bramble-grown 

The grounds — there's but an outline trace, 
Of what I still declare " my own." 

My own ? although the title-deed 
And claim of legal right has passed. 

To other hands, I'll not concede 
My claim to it while life shall last. 



THE HOMESTEAD. 13 

For if in mental state alone, 

The cottage, humble home, yet stands, 
It is in this full-well my own. 

Although a house not made with hands. 

And none can rob me of the power 

Which memory gives, and vision bright, 

To keep it as a holy dower, 

In my own heart, by sacred right. 

Forty-five feet hy thirty-two^ 

Was all the land my father owned. 

Yet, did the best that he could do. 
And, in that " castle," was enthroned. 

It was my home^ — it is so still. 

As then, though gone the loved ones now, 
And tears, my eyes, ^ith sadness fill. 

As, at its shrine, I reverent bow. 

Oh ! home, sweet home, 'tis true, 'tis true. 
That, humble though the place may be, 

Though wander we 'mid scenes all new, 
" No place, like home," we ever see. 



14 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

No palace built, with turrets grand, 
Nor titled rank, nor coat of arms, 

Is like that dearest spot of land. 

To hold the holiest memory-charms. 

But honors are not birth-right, no ; 

Nor in the blood, nor in the ground ; 
The well-born man doth, well-sensed, knoAA^ 

High worth alone, high place hath found. 

There is no caste of rank or clan ; 

True manhood, hy no "blood-birth," is ; 
He, who is right, is the right man, 

Whate'er his birthplace or his phiz. 

So, high or low, the place of birth 
Is nothing, if one, manhood, lack ; 

Though nameless, 'mong the sons of earth ; 
He stands^ who has the stiffest back 

Of moral rectitude, and holds 

His head, with conscious honor, up, 

And, in his hands his life controls ; 
He may, with kings, right royal, sup. 



TRUE HONOR. 15 

Though high-born, one cannot be tcise^ 

If low-born in his soul, he be ; 
He in his low-born meanness dies; 

There's no high place for such as he. 

Name-honor is but dingy rags, 

That dangling hang about a name, 

In festoon ; musty-odored tags, 
Which smell of antiquated fame. 

Man is not great by accident 
Or favored place, or kith or kin, 

Tis only by the high intent, 
The purpose strong, that winners win. 

Genius is nothing, lying still. 

And accident is fickle, quite. 
And 'tis alone by active will. 

And h\iin and brmvn, one wins the fight. 

So one alone, who dignifies 

His name, with manhood's high estate, 
Himself, with all the best supplies, 

And is, in truest greatness, great. 



l6 JOHiSf GREENLEAF WHITTIEP,, 

You, sir, have never sought for fame, 

Nor I, — Ave had another way. 
Open to all, alike the same, 

And " whosoever will," he may- 
Walk therein, and be counted wise 

Doing his best ; — with love for all. 
Making the highest good his prize ; 

He never shall, who doth thus, fall. 

Now, like the clouds that hurry by, 
Our days tale-told have passed away, 

And soon will come the day to die. 
As came our earliest natal day. 

We've aged; thou more, much, than I, 
As thy full years are more than mine, 

And mayhap sooner, sir, Avilt try 
The dark, death-gateway to divine. 

But yet awhile we hope thou 'It wait. 
And we shall have thee 'mongst us still. 

Ere yet shall outward swing that gate, 
For who thy place that time shall fill. 



THE POET'S PEN. 17 

'Tis cheer for us, as though didst stand 

A priest, white-robed, heaven-sent, to bless; 

To hallow all our peaceful land, 

While all do thy sweet name confess. 

For everywhere with tenderest care 

Men treasure thee, and speak thy worth 

As, of a valued fame most rare, 

And thank our God for thy good birth. 

It is the praise of men who saw 

Thy love and work, for truth and right, 

The spirit of the unwritten law ; 
As angel's wing, as pure and white. 

Taking the part of those oppressed, 
The outcasts and the lowly ones, 

Whom men had cursed, and knew not rest ; 
The dark-skinned race of Afric's sons. 

Thy pen, which was thy keen-edged sword, 
Flashed, like the lightning when the rod 

Cloud-piercing, hears the mighty word. 
Which tells the wrath of the Great God ; 



18 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Then 'twas as though the thunders pealed, 
As though an angry cyclone roared, 

And that iniquity revealed. 

Which stood where-down the torrent poured 

Then 'twas, again, as Moses' rod, 

That opened wide the Red Sea's waves, 

Till the oppressed, the dry path trod, 

And oppressors found their watery graves ; 

Then, like the red, Iduniean sword. 

Bathed in the blood of thousands slain ; 

And, then, like the true prophet's word. 
Which brought the fearful bloody rain. 

For, came, at last, that scourge of heaven, 
The war — which felled, beneath its stroke, 

The oppressor, curse, concreting seven, 
And thus the cruel bondage broke. 

Then, like a spirit sent to break 
The fetters of the crouching slave. 

Our Lincoln did the order make 

Which set him free, his rights to save. 



SLAVERY SELF-DESTR0Y1N(L 19 

That was a day to live to see, 

You saw it, sir, and so did I, 
And, ever, shall its memory be, 

Fresh in our souls until we die. 

Our good Republic, then, was made 
To tremble 'neath the battle's tread ; 

And everywhere were men afraid. 

As ran the blood streams, hot and red. 

Her life was threatened, as the blast 
Of ruthless war swept o'er her head ; 

Thank God it did no longer last. 
And Slavery is forever dead. 

He raised his hand against her life, 

The blow fell on his own bad pate. 
And in that bitter, vengeful strife, 
. He slew himself, in his hot hate. 

On us was brought that civil war. 

And drenched the land with human gore, 

Defiant of our holy law. 

Until we moaned with sorrow, sore. 



20 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

They said the State had higher rights 
Than the Great Union, and they claimed 

That he a patriot is who fights, 

To break the arch by patriots framed. 

" State rights," they claimed, forgetting then 
The States in Union bonds were bound ; 

And one flag floating o'er them, when 
They were not in base treason found, 

Meant Union, over the wide world. 
And one good brotherhood, and all. 

Where'er our banner is unfurled. 
Must for the Union stand or fall. 

It is foul treason to declare 

That States in bond, can separate, 

A nd under some new flag to swear 
The old flag and its stars to hate. 

As well may, at the altar, he 

Who, to his bride, his vow declares. 

Dare break that vow, and say I'm free ; — 
Perjures his soul, he who thus swears. 



NO PLACE FOR SLAVERY. 21 

But Slavery liacl its stronghold there ; 

For it men braved themselves to fight, 
And rend apart our flag so fair, 

And trample on each sacred right. 

It was so strange, when they had stood, 
Our patriot fathers, strong and free, 

And fought for what was highest good — 
The blessed boon of liberty, 

That these, their sons, should read between 

The lines, another story, see 
Another form — of hideous mien, 

The accursed form of Slavery. 

It had no place beneath the sun, 

Our flag no shelter to it gave, 
And that foul, direful deed was done 

Which made of man a chattel-slave. 

Contrary to all the inward sense 
Of right and justice, and the name 

Of manhood. It was vain pretence 
To excuse it — and a burning shame. 



22 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

" Freedom is national," they said, 
"And Slaveiy sectional " — but how 

Could Slaveiy rear its loathsome head, 
Beneath our Freedom Tree's fair bough. 

It was a subterfuge, a fraud. 
To seek to excuse it, and a lie ; 

And even then they said the Lord 
Did bless it. Oh I how men will try 

When choice prefers some favorite thing, 
However bad, to frame excuse ; 

They will from farthest pole-land bring 
Whatever they can find of use. 

So, Slavery, here, a place assumed ; 

So, Satan-like, it sought to stay ; 
But, Satan-like, this thing was doomed 

To be accursed and sent away. 

Our God had in his Word proclaimed 
" Of one bloody I all men have made ; " 

And men should thence have been ashamed 
To charge to Him their unhallowed trade ; 



ALL ONE BLOOD. 23 

To saj^ that man could trade in man, 

That blacks were white men's slaves and must 

Be held by that, a heaven-wrought plan, 
For masters' service, dust to dust ; 

That blacks were an inferior race. 

So fitted for the enslaver's chain. 
That it were but their proper place 

To work, unpaid for white men's gain. 

But He who made the African, 
The Anglo-Saxon, Greek, and Jew, 

The Slav, the Moor, or Mongolian, 

Made them all one — old world and new. 

And He would not allow that claim 
That one had right, by force to make 

A crimeless brother, without blame. 

His slave, — his rights from him to take. 

The blue-veined, blue-eyed Anglo-Sax, 
(The cross 'twixt Goth and Anglican), 

Could not the negro rightly tax 
To be slave-bound — a fellow-man, 



24 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Though white was he, his fellow, black, 
And though he thought white, better done, 

Yet that hue w^hich it had caught, back 
Beneath the blazing torrid sun. 

Was just as good — once, better far. 
When, in the far-off days, the Slav 

Was white, and he Avho drove the car 

Which slave men drew — did black skin have. 

'Twas thus when Israel in the land 
Of Egypt, bowed beneath their load. 

Under the hard task-master's hand. 

Spurred on by the sharp stinging goad. 

It may not be a pleasant sight 

For blue-blood white-men thus to look 

Back, but the claim is surely right. 

As may be learned from history's book. 

The change has come, mii^ahili^ 

The whites exchanged the place, and lo ! 
The blacks were slaves, the master he 

Who once the slave's sad lot did know. 



IT HAS GONE. 25 

How strange but human-like, it is, 

That, give the oppressed one but the power, 

\\\<1 he will put his master-phiz 

Where he can rule, for his brief hour. 

But that ne'er justifies the wrong, 
Nor makes a right of what is bad ; 

The weak o'erpowered by the strong 
Can only make the bad fiends glad. 

Tliank God the accursed thing has gone 

Into the land of darkest night. 
Fled as the darkness at the dawn ; 

Fled, fugitive before the right. 

Thou, sir, Avast sad, and thou didst grieve 
To see the fetters forged so strong ; 

And much it did thy soul relieve 
To see it go — that fearful wrong. 

To see it flee, dismayed away. 

And thenceforth know the slaves were free ; 
And thou didst hail the glad.some day 

When rang the shout of liberty. 



26 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Thoii saidst witli God, "All men are one," 
One blood, one brawn, one brain, one life ; 

And Avlien at last the deed was done, 
And Slavery ended in the strife. 

Thou didst rejoice, for tliou hast seen 
What all thy life was spent for here, 

And in the Golden Glory- sheen 
The angels seem to thee most near. 

Thy tears have flowed for SlaA'-ery's sin, 
But they are dried, and joy is thine. 

Because the right did victory win. 
And thy sweet joy alike is mine. 

Thy work was Christ-like, when the pen, 
The gyve, the whip, the auction-block 

Were slavery's paraphernalia, then 
Thy feet were on the Tarpeian rock. 

With thee were men of fervid zeal, 
With righteous indignation fraught. 

With hearts as true as flint to steel ; 

And everywhere the bright flame caught. 



WILLIAM LLOYD C'ARRISON. 27 

And they swore solemnly to Heaven 
That they would never quit the fight 

Until from thence the curse was driven; 
Until the slave should have his right. 

And some were mad as fiends in Hell, 
And vowed their curses on the head 

Of those who dared the truth to tell, 
And vowed to put them with the dead. 

Thou and thy friends who thus did stand 

Wert thus loud cursed, and much oppressed ; 

But all were dauntless, and at hand 
To stand the fiercest, fiery test ; 

True to the interests of that hour ; 

True to the interests of the slave ; 
Foes to that fearful demon-power ; 

Though threatened with the martyr's grave. 

There was Lloyd Gaerison — the man 
Whose heart was to the truth most true ; 

Who spurned the whole slave-holding clan, 
And did what true men ought to do. 



28 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

He would, though devils raged, be heard, 
And with a courage grand and bold 

Did speak the fearless, unsmoothed word. 
Until his tale of truth was told. 

I mind me of his paper noAV, 

The Liberator it, which said. 
As lightning speaks from mountain brow. 

With words most unobscurely read, — 

'' The constitution of these States 
Is covenant with death and hell ; " 

While it of freedom loudly prates. 
Under its guise slave-holders dwell. 

He pictured, too, the fettered slave 
Appealing I — " Am I not a man. 

And a brother ? " Men did rave 

At such presumption. 'Twas God's plan. 

The auction-block, the slave-pen too, 
That close friend of the cattle mart. 

The master with his whip — so true 
To life — with scorning heart. 



COURAGE. 29 

John Wesley said — and well said he 
The grand old saint, the holy soul, 

" 'Tis til' sum of villainies." We see 
That sum to heaven its columns roll. 

So thought Lloyd Garrison, and so 

He said, with courage strong and bold ; 

He would that all the world might know 
That men could not be bought and sold. 

He thought — to say, "All men are born free 
And equal," then, some to enslave, 

A travesty, a lie, and he 

Said it, with courage cool and brave. 

Courage ? No hero e'er had more. 
And yet his heart was as a child's ; 

Warm, tender, gentle to the core ; 
And sunny as Avhen Summer smiles. 

Few are like him — most cowards are, 
Bold darers, brags with foes not near ; 

They tell how much to do, they dare ; 
But, foemen nigh, they flee with fear. 



30 JOHN GREBNLEAF WHITTIER. 

Not so our Garrison, not lie ; 

Though not of warrior deeds and blood ; 
Yet stood so fearless, and to be 

Pelted with rotten eggs and mud. 

All for the right and for the slave ; 

He dared those ioes^felt all their ire ; 
His life's best work he freely gave. 

And burned its holiest altar fire. 

A wall of adamant he stood ; 

A fortress and a mountain strong ; 
Great, wise, high-purposed, strong, and good ; 

A foe to Slavery's foulest wrong. 

His flag, breeze-flung, mast-head was nailed ; 

His motto there was blazoned, dread ; 
And many its grand utterance hailed. 

As they its Avords most clearly read. 

Some cried, Not so. It may be true, 
But say it not, O William, hear ; 

Else we its utterance may rue. 
For much a bloody war we fear. 



BATTLE OF RIGHT. 31 

And he knew Avell, as well as they, 
Just what it costs to champion right ; 

But he his conscience must obey, 

Though he should perish in the fight. 

He knew the Man of Calvary died. 
The Christ, the peerless ; why not he 

Pour out his blood in crimson tide 
To blot the curse of Slavery ? 

Not, with the bloody sword in hand ; 

Not, midst the storm of iron-hail ; 
Not, midst the soldiers of the land ; 

Not, clad in warrior's coat of mail ; 

But, dying as a martyr dies ; 

Struck down by bludgeon, burned with fire, 
Amidst the rabble's wildest cries. 

With fagots lit by hatred's ire. 

So, die the martyrs for the truth ; 

So, fall the righteous, brave till death ; 
So, fall all, in the cruel ruth 

Of Hate-of-right's hot, vengeful breath. 



82 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

He fought it out upon that Ime, 
Although it took him many-a-year, 

Gained victory — died ; and we entwine 
For him this wreath with friendly tear. 

We memorize his name, and feel 
That ever it shall be renowned, 

And that, time, onward shall reveal 

His head, with fadeless honor, crowned. 

William Lloyd Garrison shall be 
Known everywhere, in every land 

Where shore is washed by the great sea ; 
On Russia's hills or Afric's strand. 

Charles Sumner also ; he, whose tone 
Was resonant as the clearest bell ; 

He, who the truth did fearless own, 
And dared it, with his might, to tell. 

What though the Oligarch, enthroned, 
Heard all his words, till not one more 

Would hear — as thus 'twas freely owned- 
And smote him on the Senate Floor. 



CHARLES SUMNkR. 33 

So championed Brooks to strike the blow, 
Which should forever silence him, 

And thus that noble head laid low, 
With all that chivalry's bad vim. 

But " Truth crushed down will rise again. 
The eternal years of God are hers, 

Wliile error, wounded, writhes in pain. 
And dies, amid his worshippers." 

Thus said the poet — and the soul 

Of truth, these words, metonymic, are, 

And through the ages, on they roll. 
Shining like heaven's brightest star. 

Our Sumner proved them, for he rose 

A wounded lion, from his mane 
Shaking the blood-dew, and his foes 

Must hear his voice of truth again. 

He lived to speak, on Senate floor. 

Though suffering pain's hot, blistering feet 

As ran they through his nerve-wires, more 
Than Grammograph could e'er repeat. 



84 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

He lived, pain-suffering, to speak ; 

Lived, till the Slavery ghoul had fled ; 
And though he^ for that life did seek, 

Lo ! Brooks, e'er Sumner died, was dead. 

Then Sumner died a martyr's death, 

And everywhere went up a cry, 
That thus should cease that noble breath ; 

That he should thus, by Brooks' hand, die. 

But not until he saw the hour 

When he heard Slaverj^'s funeral knell. 

Not till the toll, with magic power 
Did its black doom, emphatic, tell. 

His brow is laurel-crowned, and light, 
Its radiance sheds about his name ; 

It glows with beauty, ever bright. 
Shining, through every age of fame. 

And men shall speak his priceless worth, 
While Brooks with Arnold shall have place ; 

Sumner has gained immortal birth, 
While Brooks is ever in disgrace. 



HENRY WILSON. 35 

To the whole race of kindred men, 

Brooks' name shall be a shameful blot, 

Against which ever, will the pen 

Write this — " His memory shall rot." ^ 

Not e'en his friends will care to own 
His name ; like Benedict Arnold, he 

Shall be accursed, wherever known, 
And loaded be, with infamy. 

He struck a man on Senate-Floor, 
For words well-spoken m debate, 

And covered him with his life-gore, 
And all because of vengeful hate. 

Then there was Henry Wilson. He, 
Who Sumner's colleague was, a man 

For Massachusetts' boast, to be 
Forever first, in freedom's van. 

How glorious is our Wilson's name. 
Who never faltered from his word ! 

Dear, ever will he be to fame, 

His voice, like lion's roar was heard. 

> Prov. X. 7. 



36 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

Heard, for the bondmen, the oppressed ; 

Heard, for the right against the wrong; 
Heard, for the poor and the distressed ; 

Heard, for the weak against the strong. 

Oh Wilson ! name, though borrowed, first, 
The poor boy's waif-name, now it stands, 

A name phenomenal ; like a sunburst 

It glows and gleams through far-off lands. 



There was our Phillips, too, whose voice 
Was clear as silver trumpet-blast ; 

The pure, unsullied, who of choice 
Did stand alone, from first to last. 

How dared he every rabble throng, 
In Faneuil Hall and everywhere, 

Fighting his battles well and long, 
Till worn at last, with pain and care. 

He championed right when in the dust 
It lay, down-trodden, bruised, and torn, 

Because he felt its cause was just, f 

The-while with gyves its limbs were worn. 



WILSON'S ELOQUENCE, 37 

He raised it, ragged and besmeared ; 

Then stood beside it, like a king, 
Wliile angry foes with eyes a-bleared, 

Did, at him, dirtiest missiles fling. 

I see him now, his eyes a-gleam ; 

His voice, though calm, with force alive, 
Pouring invective like a stream 

Red-hot, till even fiends did writhe. 

How sharp his tongue, 3^et smooth as oil ; 

How calm his words, yet full of fire. 
Sarcasm, irony ; to foil 

The venomed Serpent's fiendish ire. 

He saw, at last, the victory won ; 

He saw the sullen foe shrink back ; 
He saw, when all the work was done ; 

He saw, with courage near a-lack. 

Thank God he lived, and saw the day 

When he could speak, and cheer on cheer 

Greeted his Avords. He won his way. 
And now his name is, henceforth, dear. 



38 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

We'll build for him memorial, grand ; 

A HALL, to truth and right ; his name 
Shall grace it, it shall stand 

The glorious tribute to his fame. 

What a grand Galaxy were they, 

Those patriot men, who, side by side, 

Stood in the thickest of the fray, 

And in the fight, won, e'er they died. 

Never, one swerved from path of right, 
Whatever threatened him. They knew 

The fiery perils of the fight. 

But, stood, to each, and honor, true. 

We mention, now, a ivomarCs name. 

Well-known, where'er men, hurrying, go ; 

World-wide, with ever growing fame ; 

That woman — Hariuet Beecher Stowe. 

What work her trenchant pen did do. 
When she, her tale of Slavery, told. 

Laid bare its character, — So true 
A tale will ne'er come stale and old. 



HARRIET BEECIIER STOWE. 39 

Full-humored it, with wit of those, 
Who bore, so well, their toilsome lot ; 

Full-burdened with their deep-throe d woes. 
Whose human sense, masters forgot. 

No phase of life but she portrayed ; 

No character but she described ; 
And well she Uncle Tom arrayed, 

In Christian honor, till he died. 

Then, in full-contrast, like a pearl, 

Set in the polished, native jet, 
Was Eva, — pure-souled, loving girl, — 

Of Uncle Tom, the Teacher-Pet. 

To tell him, better, of the home 

The Bible Home, her faith-clear eyes 

Saw, as she read, whose w^all and dome 
Were, to her, hopeful, glad surprise. 

Then, when at length poor Tom laid down 
To die, whipped, like a dog, to death. 

Was, for her words, the martyr's crown 
Brighter — as breathed he his last breath. 



40 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Oh, she who told that tale, did do 
What, else, forever, were undone, 

What, if not done, we still might view 
That foul Accursion, 'neath the Sun. 

Deep, laid she, her dynamite train. 
Beneath the structure Slavery raised, 

We heard., ^vefelt, when o'er the main 
Came the explosion — God be praised, 

That thus a woman's hand had skill 
To touch the button, and we know. 

That it was, by Heaven's good, high will. 
She thus did slavery overthrow. 

Aged now and feeble, still she lives, 
That woman, waiting at her Rest ; 

Enjoying what her prestige gives ; 
A woman, ranked among the best, 

Happy, while in her evening hour. 
She feels no care, and knows no foe. 

As, in her quiet, rose-bloomed bower. 
She does, tlie well-done-plaudit, knovv^ 



MRS. STOWE'S QUIET EVENING. 41 

A pleasant evening to her, now ; 

Her laurels never hence will fade ; 
Calmness rests sweetly on her brow ; 

Her credit-score is summed, and made. 

She waits content, and, if it be 

That light goes out, e'er day shall close, 
Then, still, her honor shines, and she 

Shall, only fade, as fades the rose, 

Her perfume lingering in the tale 
She told, in all its classic phrase ; 

When she lies down in death's still vale, 
She shall be, of all tongues, the praise. 

These were th?/ friends, and thou among 
Them, in tlie Galax}^ hast place ; 

Named in all lands by every tongue. 

Crowned with high honor, truth, and grace. 

And, as thou sittest down serene. 
In life's calm, placid, twilight eve. 

Watching the shadows intervene. 

Till thou, thy summons shalt receive. 



42 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

Thou seest all the record-page 
Of this great history of the fight, 

Of which, henceforth, the wisest sage, 
Shall speak, when championing the right. 

Oh, blessed art thou, friend of man. 
Whose pen was like a shaft of light. 

Which through the darkness sped, to span 
The space of Slavery's fearful night. 

From thee /learned of Liberty, 
The goddess of the fairest mold. 

And in her face I learned to see. 

Slavery condemned, in line-signs bold. 

From thee, I learned to love the slave, 
And pray to God to set him free. 

His friend, the true one, strong, and bold, 
I saw thee, Whittier, to be. 

I saw thy work, I saw the power. 

That held the slave, that bade him toil 

Unpaid, through many a weary hour. 
Until my blood, did, heated, boil. 



WORK: REST: GIFTS, 43 

Oh, 'tis not strange, that now, the deed 
Is done, which gave him liberty, 

And he is, from his bondage freed. 
Men pay their honors unto thee. 

And bring thee gifts, upon the day, 

Th' anniversary of thy birth. 
Showering their blessings on thy way. 

As on the chosen of the earth. 

Oh ! Avhat a work thy hands have wrought; 

Oh ! what a history, grand, is thine ; 
Oh ! what a boon have I, thus caught 

In thy birthday, to make it mine. 

Thy work is nearly done, and thou 
Mayest now be longing for thy rest. 

As, on thy aged, white-haired brow, 
Flashes the radiance of the blest. 

But I, perchance, may still work on. 
With head, with all my earnest heart ; 

When thou art, to the death-shades, gone. 
From life, and all its scenes, apart. 



44 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Not I alone; all men may find 

The Avorld work-full, for those in need 

Of helpful hands, and true Avords, kind ; 
Giving to, burdened sufferers, heed. 

The sufferers, crying in the night ; 

The weary, with their burdening cares ; 
The blinded, crying for the light; 

The helpless, crying for our prayers. 

And who, for right's sake toils, shall find 
What will make hearts of flesh, so feel 

The burdens which the cruel bind, 
That they, as with an arm of steel, 

Shall wrench the bands asunder, though 
Bound by a welding furnace-blast ; 

Breaking them, as a thread of tow ; 
Them, into Ocean's depths, to cast. 

And, thus, new fields before us lie. 

Where foes in legions strong are massed ; 

Who, or ive^ must, in conflict, die, 
And, on they come, in fury fast. 



THE FREEDMEN'S social STATUS. 45 

The freedmen's battles are not fought, 

Although full citizens they be, 
Our equals ; though so much is wrought. 

And they are now, forever free. 

And, though they in full manhood stand. 

Equal with all, before the law, 
Their highest privilege to command, 

With rights they bravely battled for. 

Their social status now is made 
The question, and the strife is on, 

The war of races. Sore afraid 
Are many, sitting down forlorn, 

Or, fleeing to some other clime. 

To far Liberia, or a state, 
Where they may dwell, in place and time 

Apart from others' blue-blood, hate. 

What does it mean ? Where is the sense 
Of men who once must have them near. 

As toiling slaves ? What the pretence 
They have for this, is not quite clear. 



46 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

It is a shame — a buniing shame, 

That color-lines should, thus, be drawn ; 

That white-skins should the black ones blame, 
As though themselves were better born. 

What had they of their white to say ? 

What could they, with their color do ? 
Sometimes, to mix it in the way. 

To whiten out the black skin's hue. 

Then, for the stains of black, still there, 
Condemn their own to lowest grade. 

Though they have in it their full share, 
And have, their low-born lust, betrayed. 

'Tis a dishonor, thus to shun. 

Their own blood — their own kith and kin ; 
Those rivulets that, 'neath black skins run. 

Have strains, too much of theirs, therein. 

Yet in the cars these skins can't ride ; 

Because the color is there still ; 
Nor in a city-home, abide, 

Althougli they have the cash and will. 



A STATE, VS. THE UNITED STATES. 47 

Nor can black children go to school, 

Where white men's children, high-toned, go, 

Although tliey, Avell-trained, keep each rule. 
And quick adeptness, clearly show. 

Thus 'tis, and law men nullify, 

Which gives, to all, their equal dower, 

Of Freedom-rights ; — they thus defy, 
The Great Republic's strong-armed power. 

But they must know they cannot do, 

Such hateful deeds, and hold their place ; 

Our Government, forever true. 

Must stand by that poor, out-cast race. 

The Independent States may claim, 
The right to make their own race-laws, 

But, over all is that 07ie name, 

The United States, to bid them pause; 

To show them that they cannot do, 

Whate'er, as States, they choose, and be 

Allowed to put their base schemes through. 
And not a Federal signal see. 



48 JOBN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, 

To warn them that our government, 
Still holds, its sway, and can, again, 

Show 'tis her high and right intent. 
All lawless measures to restrain. 

She'll do it, too, and law shall be. 

Through every State, by right sustained, 

Though, once, again, unwilled, Ave see, 
The dreadful storm of leaden rain. 

The boys of sixty-one^ still live. 

And have begotten many a son, 
And they are ready, aild will give 

Their lives, that truth's rights may be won. 

The G. A. R.'s and S. of V.'s, 

Are like a bond of glittering gold. 

Fire-tried, and each, with keen eye sees 
Still, the star-striped flag's bright folds. 

And ballots, or the bullets, must 

Settle the question through the land, 

For this grand cause, so good and just ; 
Cause, held in God's almighty hand. 



THE BALLOT, OR THE BULLET. 49 

'Tis ballots first — the freemen's will 

Is ill tliem, as, upon the sod, 
The snow-flakes, falling, white and still. 

Are the winged messengers of God. 

And all, their ballot-rights, must have, 
Whate'er their race or color be ; 

The black or white, the celt or slav, 
Must have the ballot's ministry. 

Or else the bullet comes, to show 

The nullifier cannot rule. 
But must the fearful ordeal know, 

And learn in war's hot-tempered school. 

The lessons, which are learned alone. 
By those who elsewhere will not learn ; 

Who will not, truth's sweet teachings own. 
But all its mandates, madly spurn. 

And, if the Southron would have peace, 
And keep the hot-sped bullet back. 

Then he, his tyranny, must cease, 
And cease to persecute the black. 



50 JOHN GREENLEAF WIIITTIER. 

He must allow each man his place, 
Though black as night, his color be, 

And cease, because of dark-huecl face, 
To brand a man with infamy. 

At school, at church, on cars, he must 
Give place to him, as other men, 

It is his right, his cause is just. 

And all the world should say Amen. 

And woe to him, Avho dares to try, 
To crowd this brother-man, aside, 

Or crush him down ; the law is nigh, 
And such, its sentence must abide. 

For, only, when its claims are known, 
And its behests are recognized, 

Do men their proper standing own, 

Or are their rights in due sense, prized. 

'Tis thus the colored man has place. 
Has equal rights with white men ; he 

Of truest manhood every trace 
Shows, though 'tis set in ebony. 



THE MONGOLIAN. 61 

And still there is another race, 

The almond-eyed Mongolians. They 

Cannot here, have a home-place, 

But must, with haste, hie them away 

From this fair land, where Freedom's bird 
Sits, meditate ; or spreads his wings 

Sun-eying, till his scream is heard 

Where th' Sun, his light o'er mount-peak flings. 

Oh, eagle ! proud bird of our land ! 

What think ye, as ye scream on high, 
Of this, our hateful, base command. 

That Chinamen must not come nigh ? 

'Tib true we've pledged, our crust to share. 
With who-so, ship from far-land brings ; 

'Tis true there room is, everywhere. 

Where sweet contentment sits and sings. 

But Chinaman, though he, quietly 

Comes here, to live, and earn his bread. 

Must never dare here-at to stay. 

Else goes his queue, perhaps, — his head. 



52 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, 

An alien he, to be cast out, 

To have no portion in this land; 
His Queue-Clan we must quickly rout, 

We must not give him friendly hand. 

He works too cheaply, eats his " rice," 
He washee Mel lean man's shirts ; 

And though he does them extra nice, 
And equal to the best experts. 

He must not stay, he can't abide 
Within our Domain, though it be 

A place where one may safely hide 
From poverty, beneath our Tree. 

He, " Heathen Chinee," at our door 
Stands, asking us to give him light ; 

Seeking to learn, that he the more 
May know, and do more fully, right. 

We send our Missionaries there. 

To China, costing thousands, so 
The Chinamen, with closest care 

The Christ, may, through the gospel, know. 



JOHN, NO' IIEREE COME. 63 

But when they come to us, straightway 
We say, " No, John, no heree come ; 

You must not learnee here to pray ; 
Go home, and pray to idols dumb." 

Oh, is this where our fathers died ? 

Is this the land of Washington ? 
Is this our Pilgrim Fathers' pride ? 

This land, where such base thing is done ? 

Yes, shame to own it, loath are we. 
But 'tis the land, the very same ; 

Alas ! perhaps it yet may be, 

That 'tis the land in but its name. 

'Tis not for foreign paupers, no ; 

Nor for the banished criminals; 
Those Countries to their poor ones owe 

Support, and to their felons cells. 

For every vicious criminal 

Who here is found, a banished fiend, 
Turns happiest place to misriest hell, 

And he cannot be, here, convened. 



64 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Our Freedom, never, senseless, means 

License, nor lazy indolence ; 
Nor, that the man who, sleeping, dreams 

Of luck, shall e'er get rich, by chance. 

It never means that one is great 
Because he has his pile of dust; 

Nor a long-genealogued estate ; 

Nor coat-of-arm, o'er-spread with rust. 

It means not, that a place, has, here 
The Anarchist, who is the foe 

Of Governments, to fill Avith fear 

Those, who their lawlessness well know. 

But 'tis the loyal man who may 

Come here to live, to work, to vote ; 

To be a true man every way ; 

Whether unknown, or, one of note. 

All honest men, whate'er their creed. 
Who come respecting our good flag. 

Who of our comforts stand in need. 
Who will not hoist a rebel rag, 



ALL HONEST MEN AT HOME HERE. 55 

They may come here, to till the soil, 
For brain-work, or, with willing hands, 

In shops, or elsewhere, by their toil 
To help our best-of-all-eartlrs-lands. 

No matter from what laiid they come ; 

No matter what their tongue may be ; 
No matter what the rounded sum 

Of their vast multitudes, Ave see. 

They have a right here, if they will 
Keep our just laws, with loyal heart ; 

Each one his place, best fit, to fill ; 
To do his honest, manly part. 

To make our land a place of thrift, 

Of busy industry and life ; 
To keep a-back the floating drift 

Of evil, gendering bloody strife. 

And in his right, must each liave guard. 
To be a man — with life, and right 

To fix his price for his reward 
Of labor, whether day or night.- 



56 JOHN 'GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

And all because our government, 
Firmly on its foundations, stands. 

And shows that 'tis its wise intent 
To well-enforce its law's demands. 

The rights of all to fully shield. 
The while unforfeit they shall be ; 

And its strong power, to, Avisely, Avield 
'Gainst Oligarch and anarchy. 

So all men equal-born, may find 
They, equal are, before the law, 

And that the government is kind. 
Though vested with the proper awe, 

And swiftly seizes those who dare 
The law's behests to disobey. 

Forgetful that the lawless bear 
Its equal, penal-curse, alway. 

It can no combined force protect. 
No Clan-na-Gael — in our land ; 

And all who are by us " suspect," 
Must, at our court's-tribunal, stand. 



NO DRUNKARD-MAKERS ALLOWED, 67 

And every law must so be made 
That right shall, vested, in it be, 

And none by fraud be e'er betrayed, 

And none who should be bound, go free, 

And none allowed, though he might pay 

High License for especial right, 
To hurt his neighbor any way. 

In purse or manhood, day or night, 

Nor drunkard-makers be allowed 
To drunkards make at any price. 

No more than he, who in a crowd 
Picks pockets, by his cool device. 

Then, can the laborer to his toil 
Off, whistling, go, and he of means 

Live happily — all by fruitful soil 
Be well-fed, by what he well, deems, 

His best pursuit, — his highest aim. 

To feel that he is, all, a man. 
And every other^ is the same, 

Who does the best a mortal can. 



58 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

The government can then control 
All our great interests, and no more 

Shall corporations, without soul. 
Grind down the faces of the poor, 

And one may, any one employ. 

Whom he shall choose, at proper wage. 

And one may, his high right enjoy, 
To work, wherever he engage. 

And labor be the capital. 

And money, only represent 
Its value, which we know full-well, 

Is but, as 'tis in commerce meant. 

For, 'tis a dead and useless thing, 
Unless put into workers' hands, 

Where its true value, it will bring. 
And he works best who understands 

That all the wealth of all the Avorld, 
Is vested in the laboring class. 

And our star-banner is unfurled. 
Dipped to their honor, as they pass. 



LABOR HONORABLE. 53 

Begrimed with toil, they honored, are, 
A-sweat and wearj^, bent and worn. 

They have of all, the holiest share, 
Of right — nor shall it e'er be torn 

From them, nor shall the laborer be. 
In working clothes, e'er set aside, 

By nabobs, who the toiling see, 

While in their carriage, they may ride. 

But they, the wage-workers, are not 
To think they have the right to say 

That 'tis their right, and only lot. 
To dictate, fully all their pay, 

They may o'er-charge, they surely may 
Be under-paid, and, 'tis of force, 

That caution's needed, every way. 

That what is right they'll have, of course. 

And all must " live and let live," too. 

And neither be, at all unjust, 
But keep this motto still in view, 
, If one goes down, the other must. 



60 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

And 'tis by mutual charity, 

And mutual interest, all can live, 

And there is no disparity, 

That each must, to the other, give. 

Employer and employee, both. 

Are bound to see, the righteous thing 

Is, done, and neither be so loth. 
As to refuse his skill to bring, 

To make all fair and equal, so 
Neither does over-reach, nor fail 

This right and privilege, well to show. 
And, in his right to, well-prevail. 

And why not? Should there be the test 
Of money, lands, or, palace grand. 

As reason why that man is best. 
Who has these ready at command? 

No ; character and honest- toil, — 

Brain, Brawn, are what are most of worth. 

And who has these, has power to foil. 
All charges of inferior birth. ^ 



(JOTTAGE AND PALACE. 6l 

The humble home — where comfort dwells, 
And peace sits smilmg all the day, 

Where sweet contentment always tells. 
How pleasant, 'tis there thus to stay. 

Where wife prepares the table — where ^ 
The children, kempt and well-behaved, 

Where all the family has share 

In the spread board — with blessing craved : 

Where God is honored — and the Book 
Is read, and daily prayer is heard ; 

That is the place where one may look ; 
'Tis like the nest of singing bird. 

And 'tis a palace, just as grand. 

As marble, brownstone, granite, glass ; 

As good as any in the land ; 
Fit, note of angels, as they pass. 

If there, economy is used. 

And habits, bad, are all eschewed. 

And manhood, never is abused. 

And every thing, and act, reviewed. 



62 JOHN ORE EN LEAF WHITTIER. 

So that the hest^ may first be done, 

And what rnust he, with hope, is borne. 

Though burdening, till life's race is run, 
And Heaven's Eternal Crown is worn. 

Then, 'tis enough, and he is wise. 
Who loves that sv eet and holy spot ; 

Who sees it, till it 'ills his eyes. 
And, for a bette^-, careth not. 

Economy, to him, is wealth ; 

'Tis better than a mine of gold ; 
'Tis better than the funds of stealth; 

Its value is not ready told. 

And skill to work, is tariff high ; 

Protection, is for faithful toil. 
And he forbids dread want come nigh, 

Who burns economic, his oil. 

If men are frugal, they can live 

On less than SiDendthrifts can afford. 

And then, to charity, can give 

A mite, and keep a well-filled board. 



GOOD SENSE AND KNOWLEDGE. 63 

The most men lack is common sense, 
The knowledge of the common laws, 

To save some fooli.sli, vain expense, 

And know v/lien they for courts, have cause. 

We need an old John Adams, now; 

A Socrates, or Plato, who 
Can teach the people, daily, how 

They best, and wisest work, may do. 

* 

Some Seneca, to teach the truth, 
Some Spartan law to train our boys, 

Some more and better things for youth, 
Than what, is muscula«aincl noise. 

Far better, sense and knowledge is, 
Than skill in games, and athlete limbs. 

Than bruising, each, the other's phiz ; 
And, thus, to suit ambition's whims. 

Laying these paltry things, aside, — 

The use of tricks, and frauds, and rings, 

Not on ambition's nag to ride. 

Which oft, his rider, earthward flings. 



64 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

We must tlie thoughts of people mould, 
That, with full-care, — the ship of state. 

May well be manned, and her course hold, 
And keep off from the rocks of fate. 

That, as the waves dash furiously. 

Which threaten her with instant doom, 

She may ride safely through the sea. 

Though clouds may gather, with thick gloom. 

The times are full of danger-signs. 
There's not enough of sober tliought, 

Too much, the younger blood inclines. 
To be, in wayward ciiannels, caught. 
*\ 

Sport, play, the base-ball, and the dance. 
The horse-race, yacht-race, club, and fair. 

The ticket, with the lot and chance, 
Are things, alas, not few nor rare. 

'Twas thus, when Babylon went down ; 

Thus, when Rome fell from hej" high place ; 
Thus, with Pompeii's fated town ; 

Thus may it be in our own case. 



ALL EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW, 65 

We must, our fathers' principles 

Make ours, and keep them, ever pure, 

In State, and in Municipals ; 

Else we cannot, through time, endure. 

The Bible foremost, sure, must be ; 

Our country, Christian, first was named. 
And sad, will be, the day we see, 

When '' 'tis not Christian," shall be claimed. 

Our schools must be forever free, 

No parochial, or sect-schools, can, 
Into our school's place come, and we 

Must stand up to this, to a man. 

All men before the law, must, still 

Be equal, as at first, and right 
Must still prevail, with strong good-will, 

Nor be out-flanked, by wrong and might. 

This is thy teaching, John, I know, 

Thy kindly heart did ever feel 
For manhood, in its weal or woe ; 

The down-crushed, 'neath the tyrant's heel, 



66 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

For common weal is commonwealth, 
We chei'ish Commonwealth, our own, 

And for our good and perfect health, 
We must protect it, zone to zone. 

Well, here thou art worn in thy years. 
And seeking rest, and quietude ; 

Not wanting that which interferes. 
And does into thy thought, intrude, 

Yet, whilst thou sittest down, serene. 
And lay est pen and themes aside, 

And shadows, falling, intervene. 

And heaven's doors seem opening wide. 

To let thee see the home beyond. 
Where shines the bright eternal day, 

Of which thy heart is cheerly fond. 
For which thou dost devoutly pray, 

Perchance I may, mean time, relate 
Something of this, less life, of mine, 

And, in my measure, simply state, 
What it may have to do with thine. 



THE BIRTHDAY BOWER. 67 

The birthdays intervined, entwine 
Together, running, thus, along, 

Like twisted clinging, eglantine, 
Making an arbor, green and strong, 

And flowering, as the fragrant rose, 
Delighting every well-taught sense. 

Which, thus, its pleasure-power shows. 
To hold the while, in pleased suspense. 

So, whilst thou sittest here, awhile, 

I will a moment, briefly stay, 
And watch thy face, thy kindly smile, 

As of myself a word I say. 

My life has been eventful, still 
It has not been my lot to stand 

Where, I, the highest place could fill. 
Among the nobles of the land. 

No crown of laurels decks my brow ; 

I sit, not yet, where praises greet 
My ear, I'm only doing, now, 

Whate'er I can, with weary feet. 



68 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

I fold not yet, across my breast, 

My hands, to bid the world ''good-night^'' 
I am not ready, yet to rest ; 

I still would battle for the right, 

But health is under-weather, some, 
And pains are keeping me in mind, — 

As slyly they do go and come, 
And treat me in a way unkind. 

That I am mortal, and my feet. 

Shall one day stop their weary walk. 

At Way-side Inn, and, I shall meet, 

The crowd, that, long, have ceased to talk ; 

The silent crowd, laid down to sleep, 

Where the white stones their berths disclose. 

Where Angel-porters, guard-watch keep, 
Where none the others' presence, knows. 

But now I'm living, and I know. 

As know all living, I must die, 
And that, while living, much I owe. 

To God, and man, and, I will try 



DOING WHAT I CAN. 69 

To do my part, that I may be 

Of some use, while I here remain, 

For, if I fail, 1 do not see. 

How, ever, I'll come back again 

To mend a path's bad crookedness. 
Or place the steps, if turned aside. 

Aright, nor, any soul to bless. 

Where I did, foretime, but deride. 

I know, but weakly, I can do. 

Whatever work my hands may find. 

But I would be, to rioht most true. 
And, to my fellow-men, most kind. 

So, with my might, whate'er my hands 
Find to do, I'll, the best I can. 

Do, thus to strengthen friendship's bands. 
And bless my needy fellow-man. 

" For there's no knowledge in the grave, 
Work or device," where all- we, go. 

Not there, can one, his neighbor save, 
" For all the dead, do, nothing know." 



70 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

I'm but a Gospel minister, sir, 

For many years I've tried to preach, 

And I have sought, as I aver. 

In Christ's dear name men's hearts to reach. 

To bid the lost, whom Christ has found. 

To look to Him, the Crucified, 
Who, with the thorns was rudely crowned, 

As, on Mount Calvary, He died. 

To bid the prodigal return. 

Rag-clothed, to find a welcome home. 
That, that fond heart, which now doth yearn, 

Shall know he doth no longer roam. 

To tell the wandering boys, who stray, 
From the old roof-tree of their birth. 

How mother, still, at home, doth pray, 
And wait, at that dear spot of earth. 

To see them come, with hands still clean. 
And souls as pure as childliood's, so. 

They, free from deeds depraved and mean. 
Still may, that mother's welcome, know. 



THUS SAITH THE LORD. 71 

To help believers keep the faith ; 

To show how reason doth bestow, 
Light, on whate'er the Almighty saith. 

And thus how faith may reason, know. 

To tell the world of future tilings, 
Wliich inspiration hath revealed, 

Of what the Christ, at coming, brings. 
Which has for ages been concealed. 

How prophecy, has shed its light, 

A-down the ages, till we see, 
A radiance shining, clear and bright, 

Upon the page of history. 

That, as the tenon deftly fits 

The mortise, so, the Prophecy, 
Just the Historic statement hits. 

That one may well the fitness see. 

And say, " this is that spoken " by the Lord, 
Who by his servant Faithful, spoke. 

And thus has kept his truthful word. 
That never, once, its truth-line broke. 



72 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

So I have said, " behold the time, 
Is fast approaching, and the day. 

When, coming in his might, snblime, 

The Christ shall hold, on earth, his sway." 

But, while I've wrought, my life has sped, 
For fifty-five, full-rounded years. 

And friends are numbered Avith the dead, 
And I have swung 'twixt smiles and tears. 

Like pendulum ; most poisely hung ; 

First one, then other; tlien the one; 
And thus, has sped, as songs are sung. 

This life, and soon it may be done. 

How swiftly speed these years ; 'tis short 
The time, since I was but a boy. 

And all seems but a thing of naught, 
Since first I played in careless joy. 

So, like " a weaver's shuttle " swift ; 

Or, like " a tale that's briefly told," 
Or, like the autumn leaves tliat drift. 

When winds are blowing, bleak and cold. 



YOUTH-POVERTY NO DAMAGE. 73 

I think-me now, of youthful days, 

Which I spent in my poverty, 
And since have held my own ; my lays, 

Are sung midst what I hope to see. 

But I am most content; I knoto, 
No Potentate of earth is throned 

So high as he, who, thus, can show, 
He is, of God, in such case, owned. 

And I am rich in this estate, 

Though poor enough in coffered wealth ; 
My Father-God is rich and great. 

And what care I for worldly pelf ? 

The heir of millions cannot show. 

Though he has wealth in boundless store, 

Such riches, in their overflow ; 

Such having, one can ask no more. 

So, spending youth in poverty, 

Is not a damage to a boy, 
For better poor than rich, is he. 

For then, he must, his potvers employ. 



74 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

On, up to school, with ready feet, 

I went, old Craneneek marked the way, 

And took my knife-hacked, paintless seat. 
Intent on study, more than play. 

Outside, I had the hardest time, 

The boys made me their special jest, 

And, in positions not sublime, 
I oft was placed, beneath the 7'est, 

" A pile, a pile ! " was oft the shout, 
The signal for the rush, pell-mell. 

When every boy, where'er about. 

Helped, up, a '' pile," grotesque, to swell. 

" A pile " it tvas, of arms and legs. 

Looking like some grim monster, huge, 

Made of waste pieces, prongs and pegs. 
Before the days of the deluge. 

They screamed and shouted, while I lay, 
Down, under all, in sorry plight. 

Breathless and panting ; I did pray 
That I might be relieved out-right. 



IN SCHOOL-ROOM A-TOP. 75 

I cried, " Oli I boyg do let me out ! 

I'm almost dead, I cannot breathe ! " 
But they cared not, they were about 

Their play, nor would me, then relieve. 

I was but small — I could not do 
The fiditing, to keep up my end, 

So, it, my physique oft did rue. 
Almost without a helping friend. 

But, in the school-room, I could keep 
My place a-top, and hold my own ; 

They could not ''pile " on me their heap ; 
My bench was to me as a throne. 

And yet, oft-times, on me was laid 
The blame of what the others did. 

And I, their scape-goat, thus, was made. 
And, for them, I was often, chid. 

So they colluded and conspired, 
To get each other rid of blame. 

And get for me what they desired ; 
Not feeling for it proper shame. 



76 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

A story I will here relate, 

How, once, such deed was almost done. 
But not quite — I was saved the fate, 

Which sometimes came of their sweet fun. 

One day a boy I will not name. 
For, living 3-et, he may not care 

To have it told. — 'Tis just the same, 
As I, the truth, most sure, declare ; 

One day he, Yankee, Avith his knife 

The benches whittled, — (nothing new ; 

There seemed among the boys a strife 

To see which, most, such work Avould do ; 

For those pine benches, without paint. 
Were made the test of all the knives. 

And many a cut and carving, quaint. 

Was made, though nothing now survives ; 

For that old house has gone, and all 
The deeds done to it, have gone, too, 

And onl}^ can our thought recall 
Its form ; we had another, new.) 



CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO. ii 

This boy used his own knife until 
The teacher took it ; then he sought 

Another, trying whittling still, 

And was, in this deed, likewise, caught. 

He borrowed knives, until the desk 
(High in the corner) showed a pile, 

He, running quite a little risk. 
Of something-else — after a while. 

That teacher had an easy way ; 

He would not whip — until he must; 
And, thus he failed, most every day, 

To deal a penalty, most just. 

So this bad boy, still whittled on. 

And borrowed knives from all around, 

Until, most all the knives had gone. 
Where others, their duress, had found. 

/sat behind him. Turning back 

He whispered, " Ask George for his knife " ; 
That moment I, some sense did lack, 

(It has been so, sometimes, in life.) 



78 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

So I asked George, beliind me, "Lend 

Your knife to him ; " at once George spoke, 

Telling the teacher. He no friend 

Was, to the boys who, school-rules, broke. 

I Avas exposed, and, then, I said. 

As honest as I well could be, 
And, as best, then, my school-boy head 

The true Avay out, could safely see ; 

I said, " He ashed me to.'' '' A lie, 

I didn't," cried he, who, before. 
Had asked the knife, — so, did deny ; 

And what could I say then? No more. 

So I was sandwiched in between 
That boy and he who sat behind ; 

I thought, it might be plainly seen, 
That he had " lied," by one not blind. 

The teacher knew what had been done, 
How, knives, he'd taken, half a score, 

And, that, perchance, another one 
Might, yet, be added to Ids store. 



LOGIC IS LOGIC. 70 

Logic is logic, and as plain 

As, " two and two are four," the truth 
AVas evident, that, once, again, 

A knife was wanted by that youth. 

In any court, good evidence 

Would be, the knives the teacher had ; 
And ant/ teacher, with right sense, 

Could make a case against that lad. 

But, sometimes policy gets place ; 

Justice is pushed at once, aside ; 
We see that Policy will trace, 

And know the evil, far and wide. 

That teacher was a good man, though ; 

He prayed in school, day after day ; 
He would not do a wrong, to know 

That he had failed, in any way, 

But he was like some other men. 
Who are afraid to speak right out, 

And keep themselves, reticent, when, 
Their interests, they must, nowise, flout. 



80 JOHN GREEXLEAF WHITTIER. 

He was like Pilate ; Herod ; men, 

Who, though the right they well could see, 

Were ready to be weak-kneed, when 
Somebody would more pleased be. 

Such, like, so well, " to please the Jews," 

And keep themselves good friends with those 

Whose friendship they may wish to use, 
Whose will they do not dare oppose. 

So, justice fails, through coAvards ; men, 
Who should be firm, are limp and weak, 

And when they should be firmest, then 
They with a faltering softness, speak. 

That teacher, somewhat like this was ; 

He spoke out, in a kind, mild way, 
Most non-committal, with a pause. 

And did, with show of fairness, say • — 

" Well, boys, 'tis difficult to tell 

Just where the truth, in this case, lies — 

Somewhere between you is its spell. 
And, who knows where it is, is wise. 



''NOT proven:' 81 

"/cannot tell, perhaps one wise 

As Solomon, could find it. I 
Cannot, with all my powers, devise 

A way to do it, and won't try." 

He named me ; said the truth I'd told, 
Once, when against myself it bore ; 

Then left the case ; — I was consoled. 

Although, he might have helped me more. 

(" Not proven " — is a verdict, made 
By Scotland's jury, when they find 

That evidence is not arrayed, 

So, " GUILTY," they, the accused, can bind. 

It lets him go, and, yet, the dark 

Suspicion rests upon the man ; 
And, everywhere, men, willing, hark 

To hear against him, what they can.) 

So I was with suspicion held, 

Though I had " sometimes " told the truth. 
And I was, by the means, compelled. 

The lie, to share with that frail youth. 



82 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

But 'tis far better to be thought 
A liar, Avhen the truth is told, 

Than, in a lie to be close-caught, 

And manhood, thus be, cheaply, sold. 

For, conscious of integrity. 

One can, suspicioned, lift his head ; 

But, he who knows he lies, must be 
A cringing coward-knave, instead ; 

Unless, as, mostly, liars are 

Lost to all shame, and, careless, quite ; 
Their brazen faces show no care, 

For they are rather wrong than right. 

I'd told the truth, that, well, I knew. 
And, that the other hoy^ did lie, 

But, still it lay hetiveen us two, 
And it might be that hoy, or , . L 

So, time went on, and I ofttimes, 
Did feel the blow upon my back, 

For others, who, to hide their crimes. 
Caused me to get the birch-rod v/hack. 



Mother's sympathy. §3 

When, of themselves, they should have told, 
And, so, have told the better truth ; 

But, rarely were the boys so bold ; 
They rather tell of me, forsootho 

But, still I studied, and I learned 
My lessons, by some hook or crook, 

For oh ! my soul with high hope, yearned, 
To know the contents of my book. 

But I, at home, had sympathy ; 

My mother was my dearest friend, 
And, always she encouraged me. 

And did, her hopeful spirit lend, 

To help me on my hapless way, 

Though, oft, I almost wished me dead ; 

But she, some cheering word would say. 
While pillowing on her breast, my head, 

" Go, study, do not mind the boys ; 

Who studies will not be a fool ; 
Play makes them dull and mere toys ; 

Go, my dear boy, still go to school." 



84 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, 

So cheered she me, day after day, 
And I kept on, and spelled and read, 

And all my lessons learned to say. 
Whether in class, at foot or head. 

But head of class is where the best 
And brightest of the scholars, stands, 

No matter where may stand the rest ; 
The best, the headship well commands. 

And 'twas not ahvays at the head. 
The teachers left, the best could be ; 

The column, sometimes, there was led. 
By some one's sons, not me, d'ye see. 

But though the favored ones did stand 
Above me, by some scheme, there-placed. 

Yet, oft, I could the place demand 
And constantly I, it, menaced. 

Sometimes I got it, for a while. 

And, sometimes, lost it, by mishap ; 

Either of right, or trap of guile, 
I yielded to some other chap. 



A CONFLICT, 85 

Once, I was nearly at the foot, 
One, only stood below me, when 

A word (it might have been, suhtout,) 
Was missed, 1 spelled it right, and, then, — 

The teacher gave it to the next. 
Who spelled it right, just as I had. 

Then up he went, — I was sore vexed. 
And went and stood above that lad. 

I was quite hasty, — I was not 
A perfect boy, — and I was sure, 

The place was mine ; alas ! I got 
Something, my imprudence to cure, 

A conflict with the teacher ? Yes, 
I should have, rather, kept my place, 

(As if, the word, I then did miss,) 
And suffer it — if in disgrace. 

I had my knuckles rapped by him 

Who laid me in the lie before. 
The teacher bade him — rather slim 

Was the pretext — a bad work's score. 



86 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, 

No boy in school should e'er rebel, 
Although he may not get his rights ; 

It never does of honor tell, 

When one his teacher, daring, lights, 

But I felt well my right, and knew 
I suffered wrongfully, and claimed 

The head, and, so, I sought to do, 
What, as an act, was to be blamed. 

Once, when a little fellow, I 
Sat in my seat, a class was out 

Spelling, and every one did try 

To spell Squash, but each, lagging lout 

Failed, I put my hand up, and caught 
The teacher's eye, I spelled the word ; 

Just as those bigger scholars ought ; 
And somewhat, then, their ire stirred. 

I was a child — it pleased me then, 
That I could spell a class-missed word, 

How much I was like most of men. 
Of such, as you, sir, oft have heard, 



THE LOVE OF VICTORY. 87 

Who, pleased are, with victory, 

And love to know they've beaten those 

AVho failed of what they sought to be, — 
Then, blatantly, their joy expose. 

Not much like that fair girl, who said, 
*' I'm sorry that the word I spelled," 

And thus her boy-friend comforted ; 
And thus, his rising feeling quelled. 

"I love you," was the reason why, 

And love will conquer vanity ; 
For it, a friend will, for you, die ; 

He, conqueror, cannot, conquered be. 

But, yet, there is in every heart 
The love of victory, and the soul 

Will from life, even, gladly part. 
That it may reach the victor's goal. 

It is not wrong, if never gained, 

Through cause of other's purposed fall ; 

If none are by it, wilfully pained, 
Then one may go before them all. 



88 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

I never sought a place to gain, 

By crowding other men aside ; 
I would not cause another pain ; 

I'd sooner ivalk that one might ride^ 

Than throw him off, and vault his steed. 
And leave him, bruised and in the dust ; 

Such course is but the spur of greed. 
And whoso does, is slave to lust. 

The road is open for the boy. 
And open for the girl, — for all. 

And whoso will, may know the joy. 
Which comes at honest Victor's call. 

I sought that road, as best I could. 

Sometimes had friends, sometimes, alone ; 

Not always right, or, always good. 
For faults I had, I'm free to own. 

Sometimes my teachers helped me on ; 

My teacher, Mary, was that sort ; 
On me she did not look with scorn, 

Although she whipped me, when she ought. 



MY FRIEND HENRY. 89 

In ripe good age, she liveth still, 

Genial and pleasant, grace-wise bred; 

And, late, she with a kind, good will, 
To me, " You had your lessons," said. 

I had a friend, too, in the school, 

Henry, a boy above my age, 
Who kept the teacher's strictest rule, 

And, as my champion did engage. 

He lives to-day, on the old place, 
Where he lived then, the only one, 

In all that district — who I trace 

To that old schoolhouse, — all are gone. 

And still our friendship holds its sway, 
Through all these years of toil and pain, 

And, if we part at last, some day, 
The hope will be, to meet again. 

True friendships last, thus, through the years ; 

Through sun and storm, in devious way ; 
They share the smiles and share the tears, 

Each of the other, day by day. 



90 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

Begun in boyhood, how these keep, 
The heart still fresh, while all around, 

Is bleak and cold, and many sleep. 

Who once we loved, 'neath grassy mound. 

Yes, friendship once, when rooted fast. 
Is not a plant that soon must die. 

It stands and grows, through stormy blast, 
And does all jealousy, defy. 

'Tis death, alone, can separate 

The friends, who, here, are strongly bound, 
And there's a place Avhere, mate to mate, 

True friends will meet, on holiest ground. 

" Blest be the tie," the poet sung, 

" That binds our hearts in purest love ; " 

" Blest be the tie," sings every tongue. 

That binds friends — as they're bound above. 

In school, I learned things far ahead 

Of classes ; I could " conjugate," 
" Decline," and, oft, I, better, read. 

Than those Avho did my poor self, hate. 



LEARNING AHEAD. 91 

I spoke my pieces too, and felt 

Thrilled b}^ the words, whose deep-toned sense 
Made my heart, sympathetic, melt, 

Or thrill with joy fulness intense. 

I spoke BozzARis, storied brave ; 

I spoke The Brussels Ball ; The Death 
Of Ashmun ; The African Slave ; 

The African Chief, with heated breath. 

The Negro's sad Complaint, I spake. 
How he was forced from home, to toil, 

Which, every tie of love did break ; 
It made my blood, with ire, boil. 

I, thus, first gained my hatred, deep, 

For slavery, and its cruelties. 
Which, well could make the angels weep, 

And, of the pit of Satan, is. 

CoAVPER and Whittier, to me 

Were men whose souls, into my own 

Poured their deep feeling, I could see 
Each slave's sad lot, hear every groan. 



92 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

I heard men argue for the rights 
Of wrong, — no rights it ever had ; 

And who such wrong's rights proudly cites, 
Must sure be daft, or, else, be mad. 

What are the rights of slavery ? I 
Asked, and my soul said, none ; 

Not one thing right, could I descry, 
When I, the best, my work had done. 

So felt I, and that sense I prize, 
Because it, early, sat me right ; 

It opened so my boyish eyes. 
So, ever, as its foe, I'd fight. 

Thus was it, when, were hunted down, 
Both Burns and Sims, in Boston, where, 

In that grand, old Historic town. 
Men, 'gainst oppression did declare, 

And their great harbor, curtly made, 
A tea-pot for King George ye Third, 

For a salt-tea ; Red Men arrayed. 

Did, what-of, men, world-wide have heard. 



KING GEORGE'S CUP OF TEA. 93 

And Blinker Hill, and Lexington, 
And Concord, all are witness, how, 

The victory, by the fight was won. 
When freemen proud, refused to bow. 

King George, might drink his cup of tea. 
And make wry faces, if he pleased, 

It meant oppressors, such as he. 

Should, thus, in all his goods be seized, 

And overboard be quickly thrown. 
Because the sense of innate right 

Could not, the right of power condone, 
The rights of freemen thus to smite. 

And, thus, oppression was, to me, 
Whate'er its form, a hateful thing, 

I, ever, 'gainst its cause must be, 
I would, aside, its false claims fling. 

The Fugitive Slave Law, accursed, 
Was a most monstrous thing, and vile ; 

Of all our laws it was the worst, 
Enacted of men's, wile and guile. 



94 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Men claimed that the great, Federal power, 
Should not o'er Southern States, be held ; 

But, what of Northern States, that hour, 
Which, us to return their slaves, compelled? 

When those black men, for refuge came, 
Burns, Sims, up hither, to the north. 

And were returned, I felt the shame, 
And, I confess it, I was wroth. 

With those poor men my sympathy- 
Was placed, as thine, good friend, and thou 

Didst say right words, that men might see. 
How vile the curse that made them bow. 

Not them, alone, for all were held 

Subservient to that evil power. 
That law which did, its fetters weld 

On all the north, that fearful hour. 

No wonder we were filled with shame. 
That such a law was ever passed. 

And loathed its very phase, and name ; 
Thank God it did no long-while, last. 



THE PRAYER-CRY, 95 

But those poor blacks, were sorely held 

In the strong fetters, of the sin. 
Which bound the burden, and compelled, 

Them, still, to work the cotton-gin, 

And rice swamps, and the cotton fields 
Where bloomed the bolls like lilies fair 

The fragrance they could only yield. 
Was the poor, burdened toiler's prayei 

And I, though far-off, heard the cry, 
As he, in anguish, plead with God ; 

As though the supplicant would die, 
Beneath the scourging of the rod. 

One could not utter deeper tone, 

More full of bitter agony. 
Though dying, on far-isle, alone. 

Where only God, his woe could see. 

I hear that cry to-day, as though 
It came afresh, from that sad soul ; 

For, still it echoes, and I know 
It will, through endless ages, roll : 



96 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

Roll, as a heaven-sent word of truth, 

Whence, still, the guilt and blame remains, 

Which held, Avithin the awful ruth, 
The slave, in his hard, galling chains. 

The prayer was ; " Let us, captib's, go ; 

We perish here, beneath dis load, 
Dou dost, our fearful sufferin's, know, 

Wid dis, our hard task-master's goad. 

Oh, break dese fetters, dat so long 
Hab boun' us, tearin' our poor flesh, 

Oh ! Lord, dou knoAvs we suffer wrong, 
An', how our tears, each day, flow fresh. 

Oh, brung de year ob jubilo. 

An' set us slabes, foreber free ; 
Oh, let us, from dis bondage go ; 

Oh, hear us, as we cry to de. 

Dou didst, dy chillen, brung, dry shod, 
By Moses' han', tro de Red Sea, 

When, ober it, he hel' his rod ; 
Oh set us. Lord, in dat way, free. 



THE SLAVE'S PRAYER. 

Gib us a Moses, let his han', 

Lead us, diy-sliod tro de sea-red ; 

Oh, gib dy great supreme comman', 
And let us be, by Moses led. 

Our wibes (dey ours de bes', ive know^ 
Our chillen, — all from us are torn, 

An' here we dem shal' know no mo', 
Dey are, to some Ian', from us borne. 

Dey's sol' from us, for Massa's gold. 
Made outen our own brains and blood, 

Warm^ wliil' our Massa's hearts are cold^ 
Like Phar'o's, harden' against God. 

Lord, we mus' hab our liberty. 
We mus' be, from dis Egyp' led. 

For here dine eyes can surely see, 
Dat we, here, just as good as dead. 

Now let dy serbants go, we pray. 

Keep off de blood-houn's from our track. 

And let us not go far astray ; 

Turn us not from de right way, back. 



98 JOHN GREEN LEAF V/HITTIER. 

De Norf star tells us where de Ian', 
' Flowing wid milk and honey ' be ; 

Oh take us, by dy friendly han', 
And brung us to sweet liberty." 

Thus, as in vision, I heard pray. 

The slave, it made my sore heart ache, 

I praj^ed that God would take away. 
His chains, and, free, for Jesu's sake. 

So, as those words, deep-pierced my soul, 
I longed to see the oppressor's rod 

Broken, that, off from him might roll, 
His burdens, by the hand of God. 

Thank God, the deed is done, at last, 
The end of slavery has come. 

And its dark days are, long since, passed. 
And every braying dog is dumb. 

Those fetters are all broken now. 
That auction-block is now no more ; 

Beneath that lash slaves do not bow. 
Nor feel their backs lash-cut and sore. 



THE BROKEN FETTERS. 99 

The deed is done, — that Red Sea passed, 
Red with the blood of slain men, who 

Fought for the Union till the last, 
Till Moses led the hosts all through. 

'Twas a long strife, that civil (?) war ; 

It made thee, man of peace, turn pale, 
So much did thy kind heart abhor 

Its horrors, but thou didst not quail. 

But I, a while was in the strife, 

Was mingling in those scenes of blood, 

Where Rebel minions sought our life. 
And stained, with blood, the soil we trod. 

They fired on our flag, as well 

Theirs, (though they did, another, fly ;) 
The old flag which so well did tell, 

How once our fathers, fought, to die. 

We turn back to the gloomy days, 

When, clouds of darkness o'er us hung. 

And note how, by the stormy ways. 
At length, our victory, we sung. 



loo JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

We " waited 'neath the furnace blast ; " 
The fearful heat, until, anew, 

We, like the Hebrew's, it's flame past, 
And came out, to our country true. 

That Traitor-Leader, Davis, he, 
Was Satan's minion, to up-hold 

The "sacred institution," (?) we 
In him, a Judas, once more, see. 

He worshiped at the black-god's shrine, 
A craven, devotee ; his cause. 

To him was all things, most divine ; 
For that, he did defy our laws. 

He, recreant to his Country's flag, 
Led on his proud, rebellious host. 

Who, 'neath that flouting, rebel rag. 

Made most presumptuous, reckless boast. 

This boast, their roll full-soon they'd call. 
On Bunker Hill, the roll of slaves. 

Where that strong granite's, shadows fall. 
Upon the green-grown patriots' graves, 



LINCOLN'S WHITE NAME, 101 

But, vain the boast, for, they did yiekl ; 

Their cause was not the cause of right, 
Though, valiantly, they took the field. 

And did, against their country fight. 

They claimed state rights^ as the excuse. 
For their rebellion, but they meant. 

The right to hold their slaves, and use 
Them, without Federal consent. 

Though that consent they had, at first. 
By compromise, Missouri, called. 

But, soon that bad-claim-bubble burst. 
And all their hearts were much appalled. 

The chains of that great power we broke ; 

The burdened captives were set free. 
For Lincoln held the pen, whose stroke 

Proclaimed, the year of jubilee. 

Lincoln, that name how white and fair 
It shines, undimming, through the j^ears ; 

A name, like Washington's, most rare. 
To be proclaimed through all the spheres. 



102 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

All honest man, fuU-souled, was he, 
Of kindly heart, and nerve of steel ; 

He took that pen, and dared to be, 
Slavery's destroyer, Freedom's weal. 

That Proclamation did the deed, 

Emancipation had its right. 
And, thus, our bondmen, all, were freed ; 

Banished, was slavery's gloomy night. 

Would he had lived to know how well 
He struck that fatal, deadly blow ; 

But we, who live, forever shall, 

His work, in all its grandness, know. 

Oh ! shameful deed, so full of hate, 

Of Wilkes Booth, which we here record. 

Only to speak of Lincoln's fate ; 

And speak of his high-prized reward. 

We note Booth's deed, but to condemn ; 

Nor he, nor any other man, 
Can, thus, dare raise a hand, for then, 

They bring God's curse, upon their plan. 



WILKES BOOTirS DEED. 103 

Sic Semper Tyrannis, cannot 
Prove one a tyrant ; nor condone, 

The act, which is a deed whose blot. 
Shall rest upon that soul, alone. 

Oh ! Lincoln, Lincoln ; even now 
Our grief for him, is hard to bear. 

While, still, in tearful mood, we bow. 

And weeds of mourning, heart-grieved, wear. 

Blest be his memory, and curst 

Be he who smote him down ; 
Wilkes Booth is named among the worst. 

While Lincoln wears a fadeless crown ; 

Crown of a Nation's honor, bright, 
And brighter growing, day by day ; 

While Booth's name dims to darkest night, 
With stigma, on it, hence, for aye. 

Well is it, we have had good men, 
Who, needed were, at such a time. 

To work for right, with voice and pen, 
According with God's work, sublime, 



104 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

They die, but live on in their deeds, 

And what they do, with brightest sheen, 

Shines on, and their life-record reads. 
Immortal, their death-lines between. 

We see it, as the time rolls on, 

When each new phase of things appears, 
When, as the old days, hence, are gone. 

The new come on, with march of years. 

A Man is needed ; lo ! 'tis he 

Who then appears, to, destined, stand, 
Where he of service, grand may be, 

Like one born, duly, close at hand. 

'Twas so with Lincoln, he stood where 
The angry powers, together, clashed, 

And, midst the lightning's lurid glare, 
As steel and flint, together flashed. 

There was he, just the man to do. 

What, scarce another, would have done, 

When, thus to be, to right, so true, 
Was not the guise of every one. 



THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 105 

And well it was a Party knew, 

Just at that time, what man to choose, 

And, just what freemen ought to do, 
And how, the ballot best to use. 

The nation now, with high acclaim. 
May speak of Lincoln, and rejoice. 

But, first, Republicans, did name, 

And make him, their best, chief est choice. 

That grand old Party, ever true 

To its behests, still standeth strong. 

Ready, its noble work to do ; 

Oh ! may it stand, right-faced, and long, 

With honor, principle, and just. 

To hold the helm of our grand Ship ; 

For, guided by one-else, she must 
Against the rocks, most hapless, slip. 

True to the cause of home and land ; 

True to the temperance cause, to be ; 
The grand, old Host, — with high command. 

Must lead us still to victory. 



106 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

For we have interests, still, of ^yo^tll, 

Questions of vast import arise. 
And everywhere, from all the earth, 

Are turned to us a billion eyes. 

Jeff Davis ; now has gone, at last, 

Death, with Ids mandate, doth prevail, 

And he who held slaves' bonds so fast, 
Is held by bonds that will not fail 

To hold Imn^ unreleasing, while 

The years go on, majestic by. 
Until, is heard through age's aisle. 

The blast of judgment-trumpet, high. 

But, while he's dead, and slavery, too, 
And nevermore the curse, Ave'll feel, 

There comes to us a question, new, 

Wliich shows how slowly wounds do heal ; 

The question, whether, now, the men 
Who first, as slaves to us were brought, 

And wrought a hundred years, and, then. 
By every, slave-bond, were well-taught, 



BLACK MEN HAVE RIGHTS. 107 

How to obey, with unpaid toil, 

And earn their Blaster^ s daily bread; 

Tilling the ever friendly soil ; 

Not owning cover for the head, — 

Whether, they, now shall here remain, 

Or, go to Africa, since, now. 
Is broken, their hard, galling chain ; 

Since, hence, to master they'll ne'er bow, 

" We have no further use for them, 
They've out-lived usefulness, and they 

Must know their black skin, does condenni. 
And they must up, and go away." 

But they are here., and have their rights. 

The highest rights of all, to be 
Before the law, equal, — and might's 

High presage is their royalty. 

They must protected be, to stay 

Or go, at will, as other men ; 
To choose their place, as best they may, 

Nor be coerced, or bound again. 



108 JOHN GREENLEAF WIIITTIER. 

We want no lavv^ to bid them go^ 

Nor make their stay unpleasant here ; 

They must, with all our peo^^le, know, 
That they can stay, with happy cheer, 

To earn their bread, to be 7nen., all. 

As others, who their equals are. 
Equal to all, whom we can call 

Our countrymen here, 'neath stripe and star ; 

To educate their children here. 

To vote as they may, self -forced, choose. 

And never feel a cringing fear. 

When they, their franchise-right, shall use. 

Thus far has triumphed their boon-right ; 

Thus far they, in their manhood, stand ; 
And right protected is, by might 

Of all the armies of our land. 

And still the march is on, and still. 

The progress is toward the day, 
When, everywhere, that people will 

Have right, to, unmolooted, stay. 



THE RACE-WAR FOOLISH. 109 

Why not? Why seek to drive them off? 

Why think our white-skin or blue-blood, 
Is reason at them thus, to scoff. 

As though we were superior mud ? 

Go to ; let's stop this arrant claim ; 

Go, look on death, see how, alike, 
No matter what the race or name. 

Death does, with equal blow, all strike. 

'Tis foolish, this race-war, this feud ; 

This most unrighteous, unjust claim; 
And only those who are imbued 

With evil, such a course will name. 

Now so far we have come, to know 
The old-time fetter-clank, has gone, 

And much to thee, good man, we owe. 
As still our cause is marching on. 

And thou hast lived to see the time, 
When, thus, athwart the eastern sky. 

There shines the omen-star sublime. 

Which heralds that glad day, most nigh, 



110 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

And cheerful words I bring to thee, 
In these, thy days of feeble age. 

The thanks of millions, who must be. 
Thy Galaxy of friends — good sage. 

Let us be hopeful God still lives ; 

Justice and judgment His high throne 
Inhabit, and He always gives 

His aid, to those who, His cause, own. 

Thou hast the Freedman's cause espoused, 
And not alone his cause, for thou 

Hast, ever, thy just soul aroused. 
For all who burdened, low did bow. 

See who, in thorny pathways, knew 

The hardships of a bitter lot. 
Who, to their conscience-faith Avere true. 

Who suffered, yet upbraided'not. 

The hunted outcasts, who, thus bore, 
The stigma, with no quiet rest. 

Driven, like dumb dogs from the door ; 
By woes and ills sorely oppressed. 



BIGOT-ZEALOTS. Ill 

Their only crime — their " thee " and " thou " ; 

Their harmless, non-resisting way ; 
Their faith that, they must worship how, 

Their conscience taught, God-moved, to pray. 

The hot-head bigot-zealots, wild. 

Who tliouglit, God-service they did do, 

As they the innocents reviled, 

Were by thy pen brought full to view, 

Their portraits tliou didst draw, to life, 
With every lineament clearly traced, 

To shov/ of what their souls were rife. 
With all the good heart-lines derased. 

Good men, perhaps they were, like Saul, 

Who, armed with warrants, chased the saints 

Unto Damascus, but, the Paul, 

Aside set Saul, by God's restraints. 

It takes sometimes a lightning flash. 
Which first may blind the zealot's eyes, 

Then, after that loud thunder-crash. 
The scales may fall to his surprise. 



112 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

So he may see, as ne'er before, 

Wliat-of, his conscience- work was made, 
And, like that Saul, he may deplore, 

That he made good men thus afraid. 

God uses men like thee, to do 

Such work, as Avill, at length, avail, 

And thou hast been, to thy work, true. 
Although men did like dajmons rail. 

Thou didst well-champion the cause, 
Of those who were, of rights denied. 

E'en, when against them, stood the laws, 
By which they were severely tried. 

Laws framed, to do them, unjust hurt. 

And, though thej^ lived lives, spotless, pure, 

They were besmeared, dragged in the dirt, 
Such harmful treatment to endure. 

Or, more, chased, banished from their home, 
'' By order of the Supreme Court," 

And made, in far-lands, poor, to roam. 
Of beasts and Indians the sport. 



WIZA RDS- WI TCHES. 113 

Or, hanged for witches in the town 
Of Salem, Puritan and straight 

With Orthodoxy's, good renown. 
Yet full of most itmighteous hate. 

So, all, who were suspects, and held, 
To answer to the wondrous test, 

By which they w^ere at last, comjDclled 
To hang, with most religious zest. 

Both men and women thus were hanged, 
Wizards and witclies ; women, who, 

If but their tongue a moment clanged, 
Must know hoAV Satan's work to do. 

And those poor children, Goodwin's, all 
Who, innocent of crime, were tried, 

And felt the blow upon them fall. 
And in their childish prattling, died. 

And Roger Sherman, Baptist he, 
Like Quakers, for the faith he held. 

Banished, to Providence did flee ; 
Being, by unjust laws, compelled. 



114 JOHN GREEN LEAF WHITTIER. 

For cause of sucli, tliy ready word 
Was like, a bugle, clear aud strong, 

Which, all the world around, is heard; 
A clarion note, condemning wrong. 

'Twas all inwrought in thy good verse, 

That, thenceforth, world-wide, mankind, all, 

As they the every act rehearse. 

Shall, thee, the Friend of Sufferers, call. 

For conscience-freedom thou didst speak, 
That all, to worship, should be free ; 

Whoever, bowing, soul-full, meek, 
Should, in their rights protected, be. 

So, banished Quaker's cause was sung. 
And Goodman Macy's, — at whose door 

Come, gray-beard-man, of solemn tongue, 
'Gainst whom the sheriff madly swore. 

The blatant sheriff-ruffian, and 

The priest bag-wigged with flowing gown ; 
Who raced themselves down to the strand. 

Which bordered on old Salisbury's town ; 



PROTEST, 115 

Who thought themselves commissioned, high, 

To do God-service, and to bring 
The fleeing back, for courts to try, 

And honor thus, Great George, the King. 

Such things were, by thy pen, portrayed. 
And each was held to mirror, true. 

Enough to make daemons afraid, 

And make bad men, their vilq deeds rue. 

Thou didst protest and cry aloud. 

Against the Avrongs, which so distressed ; 

Against the clamoring, angry crowd ; 
Against those who such souls oppressed. 

And every sufferer had a friend. 

In thee, and every tyrant knew 
That thou, thine aid wouldst, ever, lend. 

Against him, and his wicked crew. 

And not for men alone, thy pen. 

Hath been the shining shaft of light ; 

For, vale and mountain, rock and glen, 
Have found a tongue, as songful Wight. 



116 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

To sing refrain, though but the voice 
Is known, the echo of thine own ; 

As though all nature cloth rejoice, 
That it shall dwell no more alone. 

They have a smoothly caclenced tongue. 
And, beauteous, are with quiet grace, 

Since thou hast of them sweetly sung, 
Their legends, in thy lines to trace. 

Nothing's too drear or desolate, 

For thee to touch and make it glow, 

Thus saving them the direful fate. 

That none, their place, should, ever, know ; 

Sand-hills and marshes, ponds and bogs, 
The wastes of nature, which the eye 

Would turn from, where the tuneful frogs 
Alone would sing — where winds would 
sigh, — 

Have caught the music of thy song, 
Now, with a life-pulse-sense, to thrill. 

Echoing through all their scenes, along, 
With thy grand song, their notes to filL 



PLACES BY POETRY RENOWNED. 117 

Some Indian legend, or, perchance. 

Some weird phantasm. Ghoul or Sprite ; 

Or, fairy's, with fantastic dance ; 
Or, Apparition of the night. 

" Plumb Island, lies, a whale aground," 

Stranded along the ocean's shore. 
With many a barren sandy mound. 

All verdureless, from days of yore, 

And Black Rocks, on the other side. 
And Isles of Shoals, far out at sea. 

Where Hamadryads, did abide ; 
All owe their fame, poet, to thee. 

And up the river, where the tide 

Flows back to Salisbury's, low-marshed shore. 
Where Macy's skiff did lightly ride. 

Who took that voyage, unknown before. 

And Chain Bridge and Deer Island hold 
A spell thou gavest them in song; 

And shores, where dashing billows bold. 
Break all the sandy beach, along. 



118 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTlEll. 

And Craneneck Hill ; and Indian where 
Old Tom, the Great, once held his sway. 

Crane Pond and Dole's — with, wonders rare, 
Where pickerel 'neath the pads, oft play. 

And Pickerel Pond, in Haverhill Town, 
Hath now, a smoother, softer name,* 

Kenoza, and a good renown 

It has, though Pickerel 'tis, the same. 

Never had Craneneck Hill been known, 

Beyond the local home-folk lore ; 
Nor pond, nor rock, nor tree, could own 

Such classic fame as this, before. 

With song thou hast endowed them all, 

Which gives them names, and makes them 
known. 

Till men, the places, curious call. 
And their weird fascinations own. 

Thus, all are voiced, by thy sweet art. 
And sing, responsive to thy praise. 

And waken, in each senseful heart, 
Voiceful, melodious, joyous lays. 



AIY DEBT. 119 

Fame-wide, are now these song-scenes, all 

Associated with thy name, 
And light, and shadow, interfall 

A shade a moment, then a flame. 

They tell of thee, though first of God, 

Their Great Creator mighty, who 
Did, by His fiat and His nod, 

Make all things, at creation, new. 

If they can speak of thee, then, I, 

Indebted am, far more than they ; 
And with them, I would, voiceful, vie, 

In this my humble, kindly, lay, 

For thy birthday has given me. 
Allegiance, by the strongest band, 

Binding me, this day, to thee, 

"With many a silken, woven strand. 

I must thus feel the influence, strong. 
Which draws me close to thee, to make 

These chords, the chords of sweetest song, 
Whose heart-strings, touched, attuned, awake. 



120 JOHN GREENLEAF WHlTTIER. 

I give to thee my greeting hand, 
I speak my words with friendly voice, 

As though I, by thy side, did stand, 
And with thee did, the while, rejoice. 

To me thine ever beauteous light. 
Is precious, hence, forever more ; 

The written years, in letters bright, 
Are Eighteen-Seven, and Thirty-four, 

I'll cherish them, as time goes by, 
And drop for thee the kindly tear, 

If, first, thou, liest down to die. 

Standing, perchance, beside thy bier, 

I'll say, " Blest be the memory 

Of him, the poet of my choice ; 
Blest be the world, thenceforth, that, he 

Hath uttered, thus, with sweet-toned voice, 

His words, poetic, which shall roll. 

Like music through the shining spheres. 

To fill each listening, raptured soul, 
With holy joy, while come the years : 



MY TRIBUTE, 121 

All full of beauty, by tliy lays, 

And resonant with voice of psalm; 

As priests, who intertone their praise, 

And wave the green, wide-spreading pa'lm. 

Of this, I sing with joy to-day, 

For, who, thus, near thee, but must sing, 
Although my feebler, humbler lay. 

Soars not like thine, on lark's high wing. 

'Tis but my tribute to thy worth. 

To thy sweet influence, o'er my heart, 

Because thy birthday gave me birth : 
For this, I cannot from thee part. 

I feel thee near me, sir, to-day, 
This seventeenth^ the day so rare, 

And I will, ever, for thee pray. 

And seek for thee, '' Our Father's " care. 

Wilt thou then these lines welcome give, 
These homely lines of kind intent, 

Tliat tell how-, by this day, I live ; 
Since all but for the best are meant ? 



122 JOHN GREESLEAF WHITTIER. 

This day thy precious life began, 
And ran along until I came, 

Caught on, and, Avith it, thenceforth, ran. 
Until it is, to both the same, 

And both together, thence are tied. 
In one completed, Gordian knot; 

And each, with each, thus close allied, 
Shall never be, through life, forgot. 

Thy years now number eigJity-tivo^^ 
My years are fifty-jive^ and we 

Have seen our years pass in review. 
Never so many more we'll see. 

As runs the glass its swift, still sands. 
So our lives, swiftly speed away, 

And near us, possibly, he stands, 

Death's messenger to call, straightway. 

And we may never, well-pleased, meet. 
To feel the pressure of each hand. 

And, each, the other, kindly greet. 
And, in each other's presence stand, 

1 On Dec. 17, 1889. 



THE SUN-STAR. 123 

I've near thee been, yet it was far, 

I've known thee, — all the while unseen, 

Thou Sun, hast been to me a star, 
Since distance did so intervene. 

But it was light to me, I feel, 

That, 'tis my light's best radiance, bright, 
Of sweetest thought, and happiest weal, 

With sense of purest toned delight ; 

And so this birthday, — thine and mine 

Is one unmeasured happiness ; 
And join I thus, my name with thine. 

That mine, thine may, by contact, bless. 

If I see not thy face — nor hold 

Thy hand, with joy, in mine. 
Yet I am with the thought consoled. 

That my birthday is also thine. 

But yet I hope still, that e'er the gates. 
Swing in, upon their grating hinge. 

And that grim messenger, who waits. 
And, to thee thy last summons brings, 



1^4 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

To hide thee from the mortal sight, 
Of those who love thee, evermore, 

In the clamp rayless, death-dark, night, 
While moves the Avorld on, as before. 

Ere then, thy face I hope to see. 

If but a moment, that my hand 
]\Liy clasp thine, then — the pledge to me. 

Of friendship, — truest strongest band. 

And then the vision of thy face, 

Will strengthen me, and I'll remember 

More in the heart's best, home-kept, place. 
This Seventeenth day of our December. 

The day shall, ever, thenceforth, come, 
Upon its yearly, time-fixed round. 

Not as a mute, all voiceless, dumb. 

But chorused with full-chimed, glad sound 

Of voices, mingling in the air. 

Singing in tones, most sweet to me, 

On earth so unknown and so rare. 
The song of this, the meed to thee. 



/ BLESS TIIEE. 125 

I'll bless tliee for it, and may God 
Bless thee, and lead thee by the hand 

With comfort, of His staff and rod. 
And bring thee to the border-land ; 

Then, gently, lay thee down to sleep, 
Closing thine eyes, for qniet rest, 

While, well-appointed angels keep 
Thee, in thy sleep, secure and blest, 

Until the last grand morn shall break. 
In beauty through the ambient skies ; 

Then mayst thou, all immortal wake, 
And in the Saviour's image rise. 

I may work briefly for a while. 

Preaching wherever I may be. 
With prayer, that Heaven may on me smile, 

And I some fruitage-good may see. 

If I the Christ may, fully, preach. 

Him of Judea and Galilee ; 
And, in His name, the lowly reach. 

That they, his kindly face may see. 



126 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 

I will be satisfied, nor ask 

A higher honor — and, when done, 
My pleasing, well-appointed task, 

It ending, with life's setting sun, 

Then, I shall sleep, and I shall rise. 

When comes the morn of that glad day. 

When, coming through the parting skies, 
The Christ will speed him on his way, 

Back to the earth, he trod before, 
But not, as when he here, awhile, 

The thorn-crown, ignominious, wore. 
When in Him, Pilate found no guile, 

But, in His glory-bright, to reign ; 

Fixing his throne where David's stood ; 
When earth shall bloom and smile again, 

And grows the Life Tree's, forest-wood. 

Then may we sing amidst the throng. 
The multitude redeemed sliall sing. 

The glad Hosannas, rapturous song, 
As God shall His, to Zion bring. 



BENEDICTION. 127 

Meanwhile, thou for the end, wilt wait 

In quiet peace, relieved of care ; 
Dear, precious friend, whom none can hate. 

Waiting amidst the gloaming there. 

Now friend, adieu — ivitli God — may He 
Bless thee, forever, through His Son ; 

By His own Spirit, all, the three^ 
Until, at last, thy life is done, 

Then thou shalt rest the little ivliile^ 
Until the morning-light shall dawn ; 

And, when all nature, in its smile, 
Shall answer, the salute of morn ; 

Then may we meet, where friends abide, 

Forever, witliout age or pain. 
Where flows life's river's healing tide. 

Where Christ, The King of Earth, Shall Reign. 




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